Connecter



March 13, 1934.

A, G. STEl NMAYER CONNECTER Filed June 5, 1950 .4/W/ A flaw/W 5:

Patented Mar. 13, 1934 UNITED STATESPATENT FFICE Application June 5,1930, Serial No. 459,265

2 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in wireclamping devices or connecters and has as an object the provision of adevice of this character which will provide a good electrical connectionbetween two wires or conductors and securely hold the same againstmovement, and wherein the clamp members are of complementary shape andconstruction to facilitate production.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it beingunderstood that such changes in the precise cmbocliment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated one complete example ofthe physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to thebest mode I have so far devised for the practical application of thepriniples thereof, and in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of a connecter embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a side view thereof taken on the plane of the line 22 ofFigure 1; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the connecter with the partsseparated.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing in whichlike numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, thenumerals 5 and 6 represent line'conductors adapted to be electricallyconnected at angles to each other, and 7 and 8 represent complementaryclamping members between which the line conductors are adapted to besecurely held against shifting and in electrical connection with eachother.

Each clamping member consists of a plate 9 of approximately segmentalshape having a central opening 10 which is preferably square to engagethe squared shank portion 11 of a connecting bolt 12, and inwardlyprojected flanges 13 and 14 disposed at right angles to each IOthBI orany other angle at which it is desired to have the conductors 5 and 6dispcsed, with respect to each other. The flanges 13 and 14 are ofdifferent heights which difference is substantially equal to thediameter of the conductors 5 and 6, and are grooved or channeled, as at15, to conform to the cylindrical surface of the conductors to assuremaximum contact between the clampin plates and the conductors and thusprovide a good electrical connection therebetween.

As the clamping plates are identical in construction, the short flange13 of one registers with the higher flange 14 of the other, when theplates are in clamping relation, so that the conductors confined betweenthe meeting grooved edges of the flanges are securely gripped upontightening of a nut 16 threaded on the bolt 12 which is passed throughthe openings 10 in the two plates. As is customary, a spring lock washer17 is preferably provided between the nut 16 and the adjacent clampingplate.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to whichan invention of this character appertains that the clamping plates,being of complementary construction, facilitate quantity production andthe grooved flanges 13 and 14 engaging the conductors for the width ofthe plate, assure an excellent contact and also provide a good clampingaction to securely hold the conductors against shifting between theclamping members irrespective of longitudinal stress imposed thereon.

What I claim as my invention is':

l. A wire clamp to electrically and mechanically connect two crossedwires comprising, a pair of spaced plates parallel with each other andthe plane of the crossed wires, said plates each having a pair ofsimilar perpendicular projections at adjoining sides thereof, saidprojections extending different distances from the plates so that thelonger projection of one plate cooperates with the shorter projection onthe other plate and vice versa to clamp the wires therebetween and holdthem in direct contact with each other, and means to draw said platestogether into clamping relation.

2. A wire clamp to mechanically and electrically connect two crossingwires comprising, a pair of spaced parallel plates, said plates eachhaving a pair of angularly disposed similar perpendicular projectionsextending from the edges of two adjacent sides of the plates, the angleformed by the projections corresponding to that formed by the crossingwires, said projections being of different heights from the plate sothat the higher projection of one plate 00- operates with the lowerprojection on the other plate to clamp the wires therebetween and holdthem in direct contact with each other, arcuate seats on the outer endsof each of said projections to accommodate a wire, and means to drawsaid plates together into clamping relation.

ALWIN G. STEINMAYER.

